 |
|
"Our
vote is the best guarantee of our civil rights and the best
expression
of our citizenship," said Saeed
|
WASHINGTON,
February 18 (IslamOnline.net) – A nationwide coalition of U.S.
Muslim organizations announced on Tuesday, February 17, the formation
of a task force to increase political participation of community
members and develop alliances on
a wide variety of social, political, economic and moral issues.
The
new body, called the "American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights
and
Elections (AMT)", will encourage American Muslims to vote – and
also have an influence - in the approaching presidential elections.
"Our
vote is the best guarantee of our civil rights and the best expression
of our citizenship," said AMT Coordinator Agha Saeed in a press
release.
"We
will mobilize American Muslim voters at the local, state and national
levels, with a primary focus on those states and races that may have
the most impact in the coming elections," he added.
Under
the plan, each participating organization will be obliged to make a
good faith effort to reach out to its own members to ensure their
participation in the decision making process.
Organizations
will seek such participation and policy input through opinion polls,
questionnaires, community forums, town hall meetings, e-groups and
other similar means.
The
plan calls on American Muslim individuals and organizations to
encourage community members to vote, research and compare candidates
from their district and issue scorecards for the convenience of their
community.
The
task force also calls for organizing absentee ballots for the least
likely-to-vote sections of the community and a
get-out-to-vote team in district inhabited by Muslims.
The
plan pushes Muslims forward for building local coalitions with
like-minded individuals and organizations and maintain effective and
visible presence in all local forums.
Other
Issues
The
AMT will put forward a "civil rights plus" agenda for the
2004 election cycle in which civil rights is the most important issue,
but not the only.
"We
remain equally committed to education, homelessness, economic
recovery, environmental and ecological safety, electoral reform,
crime, and global peace and justice," reads the election plan
posted on the AMT website.
The
new group will concentrate on helping Muslims become "full
partners in the development and prosperity of our homeland,"
defending the civil rights of all Americans and developing alliances
on a wide variety of social, political and economic issues.
The
AMT is an umbrella organization representing American Muslim Alliance
(AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of
North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The
coalition also includes Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA),
Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC),
Muslim Student Association - National (MSA-N), and Project Islamic
Hope (PIH).
A
number of several organizations have rallied Arab-Americans to register
for the vote in an effort to show they can be a great
political force and key players in this year's presidential election.
The
message has also been relayed in mosques and churches, with the voter
registration campaigns have already shown encouraging results in New
York, Florida and California, according to organizers.
"The
country's three million Arab-Americans could represent a considerable
political force," Imad Hamad, Michigan director of the
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has said.
Hate
crimes against Arab-Americans were reported throughout the country
after the 9-11 attacks and U.S. authorities have questioned and
detained hundreds of Arab-Americans.
"The
only solution was: be part of the process. Express your rights as
American citizens and register to vote," added Hamad, a Lebanon
native who moved to the states in 1980.
